to reconcile differences

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "to reconcile differences" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where you want to express the act of resolving disagreements or conflicts between parties. Example: "The mediator's role is to reconcile differences between the two sides to reach a mutually beneficial agreement."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

To reconcile differences in these different sources of regulatory network information (literature, Ingenuity, Pathway Studio), we only included an interaction in our network if it could be identified in two out of the three resources.

BMC Systems Biology

Lawmakers will have to reconcile differences.

The New York Times

House and Senate negotiators immediately began meeting to reconcile differences between their respective bills.

The New York Times

Not only birthdays and weddings, but of rituals designed to reconcile differences and resolve conflicts.

The Guardian

"I have not seen him reach out to try to reconcile differences between competing groups, have you?" Mr. McCall asked.

The New York Times

"You always want to reconcile differences through negotiation if you possibly can," he said at news conference on Staten Island.

The New York Times

Congressional negotiators and their aides have been meeting for more than a week to reconcile differences between the two versions.

The New York Times

In an effort to reconcile differences and normalize relations, Museveni made a historic visit to Khartoum last year.

The Washington Post

The House-Senate conference will hold an open meeting on Wednesday afternoon as it starts to reconcile differences.

The Guardian

They use an automated machine-learning method to reconcile differences between the experimental and computational genetic interaction maps.

Nature

But a Senate-House conference to reconcile differences may not be able to complete action until September.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Pair "to reconcile differences" with specific actions or strategies, such as negotiation or mediation, to emphasize a proactive approach to conflict resolution.

Common error

While "to reconcile differences" is generally appropriate, avoid using it in very casual or informal settings where simpler language like "to sort things out" or "to patch things up" would be more fitting.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to reconcile differences" functions as an infinitive phrase expressing purpose or intention. As confirmed by Ludwig, it denotes the act of resolving disagreements or conflicts. It often appears in contexts where negotiation or mediation is involved.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

61%

Science

27%

Academia

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "to reconcile differences" is a grammatically correct and very common expression used to describe the act of resolving conflicts or disagreements. As Ludwig AI points out, it is primarily employed in news, scientific, and academic contexts, indicating a neutral to professional register. While alternatives like "to resolve disputes" or "to settle conflicts" exist, "to reconcile differences" often implies a more proactive and conciliatory approach. When using this phrase, ensure clarity regarding the parties involved and the nature of the discrepancies. While Ludwig indicates that the phrase is appropriate for many contexts, it's best to avoid it in informal settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to resolve disputes

Focuses specifically on settling disagreements, often in a legal or formal setting.

to settle conflicts

Emphasizes ending active opposition or disagreement.

to bridge divides

Highlights the act of connecting or uniting separate groups or viewpoints.

to overcome disagreements

Focuses on successfully moving past points of contention.

to achieve consensus

Emphasizes reaching a mutually agreeable decision or understanding.

to find common ground

Highlights the discovery of shared interests or beliefs to facilitate agreement.

to make peace

Focuses on restoring harmonious relations after conflict.

to negotiate a settlement

Emphasizes the process of bargaining to reach an agreement.

to mediate disputes

Highlights the use of a neutral third party to facilitate resolution.

to harmonize relations

Focuses on creating a pleasing or consistent relationship, reducing friction.

FAQs

How can I use "to reconcile differences" in a sentence?

You can use "to reconcile differences" to describe the act of resolving disagreements, such as, "The committee was formed to reconcile differences between the two proposals."

What are some alternatives to "to reconcile differences"?

Alternatives include "to resolve disputes", "to settle conflicts", or "to bridge divides", depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "reconcile our differences" or "reconcile the differences"?

Both are grammatically correct. "Reconcile our differences" implies a personal involvement, while "reconcile the differences" is more general and might refer to discrepancies in data or opinions. For example, "The goal is to reconcile our differences and move forward" versus "Analysts are working to reconcile the differences in the financial reports."

What does it mean to "reconcile differences" in accounting?

In accounting, "to reconcile differences" means to compare and adjust two sets of records (like bank statements and internal accounts) to ensure they match and to account for any discrepancies.